cp176

I kind of agree with you but if that isn't him in the pic (which i don't think it is) all bets are off. If that is him, he has been eating about as often as one of those burmese pythons they have been catching in the everglades which isn't all that often.

check with your boss

but not for us normal folk right

Sadly, on second glance, this is not a picture of someone weighing as much as we know Sandoval still weighs. He would have had to have lost about 1/3 of his body for this to be accurate. They got us with this one.

I agree with you. We all know that Price isn't going to be throwing the ball for the rest of the boys but his overall approach to the game - his fitness level - his work habits- concern for teammates - could be a major difference maker. Sometimes talented people need a little incentive , a little shove to be better. Having a leader on the staff who has high expectations for everyone else could be a big key for a player like Buchholz. In a perfect world, highly paid athletes always perform up to the standards or maybe even to the level the stats say they should without having to be pushed. The world isn't perfect. Major League Baseball is filled with highly paid numbskulls. Some of them still need some guidance!

stupid - arrogant - rich - describes a large number of professional athletes today

It looks like they are heading in the right direction.

i appreciate what you are saying here. I have a great deal of interest in the Sox minor league programs for lots of reasons. First of all, I enjoy going to and watching a minor league game much more than I enjoy going to Fenway. I'm just getting older I guess. Been in Boston and have fought the traffic, tried to figure out the MBTA, and tried to follow the map at the Fine Arts Museum. No luck for me - I am a rube. Another reason I enjoy following them particularly recently is that I am just not sure that our overall lineup is as good as it could be and might be soon. First base - third base - the outfield - our rotation and our bullpen quite possibly will be helped by the infusion of youth that will be here soon. I am really anxious to hear what you have to say after you see a few of these guys this spring. Brian Johnson - Pat Light - Sam Travis for 3. Sadly when I read Buccholtz's comments about needing to do everything this year that he should have been doing forever because it is a contract year, I can't help but look forward to watching some of these youngsters who treat everyday with a sense of urgency.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/02/12/brian-bannister-and-art-making-pitchers-better/MjT29OjB0q9TnYZyLggpDJ/story.html?event=event25 Great article. Brian Bannister son of Floyd (remember him) - glad that he is one of us.

Saw this picture earlier. here's hoping!!!

Espinoza although very young looks like the real deal. He still has a way to go for sure. I like Kopech and am anxious to see how this year works out for him. Because of his suspension and Espinoza's emergence, his name gets lost in the shuffle somewhat. He might be a very pleasant surprise.

I agree with you. But I will say that the Kimbrel trade has to be considered as part of the "hit", but I don't see it as considerable at all.

Interesting read! thanks - Not much there to really disagree with for me. I do think that the contingency plans for alternatives if the guys needing bounce back years fail are getting stronger and stronger. i still think that Johnson's name will become one that we get more familiar with this year.

I think that you are right. A good potential rising star but has he shown at this point in time enough power to encourage anybody to trade for him and take a shot that he might be decent at first or third? I don't think so. I would give Shaw a real shot long before I would even consider attempting to change Swihart's position. The Red Sox are much better off hanging on to him right now. He gets his chance. I don't think DD will give him away. Not to mention the fact that he might be our starting catcher for many, many years.

I don't think that anyone is really advocating for him to be traded. Debate seems to be centered around how much value he would have as a stand alone trade candidate. I like the kid but I just don't see him bring ing in anything substantial just yet as a potential trade candidate. He has a lot of things going for him that might change that perspective as this season moves along.

We will have to wait and see I guess. He has a lot of things going for him. Do you think that our front office has been fielding offers for him? Maybe they have and maybe they haven't. It seems likely that we would have heard something if they had.

I'm cheering for him believe me. I just don't see other clubs buying into what he did over the second half of last season as being a big enough sample size to encourage them to take a big risk and give us much for him alone in a trade. Maybe later on this season.

ah wait - couple things - baseball America has the Red Sox farm system ranked 4th. Good luck trying to figure out why someone has us number 10 and someone has us number 4. 7 and a half works for me. Also - Our farm system was in no way decimated by the Kimbrel trade and graduations. For starters I would say look at Margot's rankings before the trade and the rapid advancement he miraculously took after the trade was completed. Ridiculous!

currently Swihart would alone be worth very little in a trade. Packaged with others maybe but alone sorry. I suppose moving him to another position is a possibility but how does anyone know that we don't have better options certainly at first and third. Sam travis I am guessing will surprise you all and he will be every bit as good a hitter as Swihart. At third or first Travis Shaw has and probably will in the future provide more of a power source than Swihart ever will. Don't get me wrong, I like Swihart. I just do not see him being the important piece to this puzzle that others do. He will be a decent player for us if he stays in Boston. We have others that might actually be better.

Brad Inglis - 18 yrs. old . 6'4" with a big body just signed with the Sox. Hard throwing kid from Australia.

illegit???

You are probably right here. I might see a late season callup possibly all pending. I'm anxious for them to move because I think that very soon they will provide us with better options than we have right now. No one wants these guys rushed but they have the potential to help fill out a truly good roster. If they perform like their short history says they should, if nothing else they might send a message to the boys currently in their roster spots that there is some good competition to play.

I think that all in all the Sox have some pretty good potential backup plans for both Ramirez and Sandoval. I also think that we will see Benintendi on a fast track upward. Same goes for Moncada if they can figure out where he fits fielding wise. It is possible that he becomes the third baseman of the future. The issues with his footwork might require getting him away from second base.

A couple of other fles might be Shaw, Travis, and Deevers. I like Swihart a whole bunch but those other guys aren't just their for window dressing.

I'm not sure Swihart brings much alone. The potential is certainly there for him to be very good but someone would have to be willing to take a chance that his catching skills really will continue to improve. Maybe in a package but might not be worth it. Down the road maybe and maybe that is what will happen.